minimeme

I have a bunch of 1/2 cup and 1 cup size storage containers that I use to prepare my meals the day before. So, I feel that is the most important step for me as it helps me to never be without healthy food and to control the portion. Portion size is very important as several people have posted about enlarging their esophagus. That being said, my daily routine goes something like this 1st meal: Protein drink or small drinkable yogurt (I also take my Vitamins and suppliments at this time). Most work days it will be a chocolate banana vivanno at starbucks. 2nd meal: I try to get in 1/2 cup of veggies or fruit with some protein. I usually will have diced fruit with cheese/cottage cheese/yogurt. 3rd meal/lunch: I usually eat lean meats and veggies or Beans. I love salmon and chicken and have several recipes I adore. Today I will make balsamic glazed chicken breasts with blackberries and it should last the workweek. Honey chipotle salmon is another favorite. In a pinch, I will take a frozen dinner. But I am trying very hard to stay away from prepackaged/processed foods. 4th meal: I try to focus on fruit or veggies depending on what I had the 2nd meal. Once again, 1/2 cup and add some protein/fats to help with the blood sugar. 5th meal/dinner: This will be my largest meal. I plan it out in 1 cup container although I usually will not eat the full cup. I eat out for dinner also. I just control my portions. Most of my regular restraunts know to only put 1 cup total and to not bring chips or bread. When ordering I stick to lean meats and veggies. I dont order potatoes or Pasta. Yesterday I ordered grilled chicken breast with broccoli and I substituted a bowl of fresh strawberries for the rice. Romanos macaroni grill has a great choice of dinners under 400 calories. Love their warm spinach salad with scallops. Most doctors will want you to stick to 3 meals with no snacking in between. So you need to weigh my advice. This is what works for me, but it isnt what will work for everyone. If I tried to stick to 3 meals only, my blood sugar would be an issue.

I started early on the pre-op diet. I think I started liquids at 6 weeks or 4 weeks out, cant recall. For me it was an issue of convenience. I didnt have to constantly think about what to eat. I am now 7 months post surgery and down 140 lbs. Some of that thanks to the early start. I also wanted to add that my doctor said the 2 week diet was due to my high BMI, it would shink my liver and give him room to work.

I usually go to a theater that serves dinner. They have a cheese and fruit plate that I nibble on if I want to eat. Most times I just dont eat though. Pre banding, I had been known to sneak in food. I carry a large purse and no one has ever questioned what was in it.

There is an aweful lot of follow up with the band. I had/have a phobia of removing or rerouting some of my insides so sleeve wasnt even an option for me. I was stuck in a hospital emergency room and heard a lady come in who had complications from a gastric bypass. Scared the devil out of me, never even considered the sleeve because of it. But honestly, if it werent for that bit of trauma I believe the sleeve would have been a better choice.

I have never had it in anything but their banana chocolate vivano drink so I dont know. I love it in that one though. You get a serving of fruit along with the protein and calcium.

Starbucks does have protein. They use it in their Vivano and it can be added to any drink.

I use the banana chocolate vivanno as a meal substitute. And their Naked brand protein drink is good for 2 meals (very high calories).

You could stuff a tomato with the chicken salad. Or, I use orange red and yellow bell peppers are substitutes for crackers and chips.

hope everyone is healthy and happy.

I love the Bloomin Nutrition chewable prenatal. It has a citrus ginger flavor that is not overly sweet like most other chewable. Personally, I cant stand the faux candy Vitamins. Prenatal Vitamins | Chewable Prenatal Vitamins - Bloomen Nutrition

I started 3 mo presurgery and never missed a day. I did liquid multivitamin immediately post surgery. Be sure to take a biotin suppliment too as it will help with hair loss.

Biotin, rogaine, and protein seem to be working for me. Dont know if it is any of the one because I started the biotin and rogaine together. But now I have a larger than normal percentage of short hair and on humid days it sticks up all over the place.

I am about 6 and a half months out and 145 lbs down. Started having issues with skin around my hip bones. Standing up, I dont look bad, but when I sit I get rolls around my tummy, the folds start at my hip bones. I am also worried my body might be rejecting the band.

Racists BS. All rap music is NOT what your bigoted opinion wants to make it. ZZ Tops lyrics, "she like cocaine and flipping out with great danes", so does that mean all rock music promotes beastiality? Cause you realize that a lot of bigoted people believe it to be a white mans sickness. See, stereotypes cut both ways.

I was an adult before I became overweight. I guess I was one of the few people in the world who didn't see being overweight as horrorific. The only reason I am banded is because I have serious health issues, worst being cardiomyopathy. What I am going thru now is worth being healthy, it is NOT worth being thin by itself. You keep mentioning that your female family members became overweight and it scares you, yet not once have you mentioned illness. I honestly do believe you should spend your money right now on counseling, vs getting banded. You need to examine your real motives behind this. We lie to our selves to justify our issues all the time.

I am probably one of the ones who said she felt like a semi hit her. It took me a good week to get to where I didnt need the pain killers. What I did to help eleviate some of it was walking and for the gas pain in my back and shoulder, my guy rubbed and patted on my back (sorta like burping a baby). Hope you get to feeling better real soon sweetie.

Inflamation most certainly makes a difference in what I can eat.

Two of the areas that soy beats whey Protein in building muscle is glutamine and arginine. Otherwise, whey wins all other categories. -Glutamine is a non-essential amino acid. Your body uses glutamine to transport nitrogen to your tissues. Glutamine also increases muscle cell volume through cellular hydration. Glutamine supplementation also increases growth hormone levels, which leads to the muscle using fatty acids for fuel rather than blood sugar. Those looking to build muscle should consume 3 to 5 grams of glutamine, 3 times per day. -Arginine is a non-essential amino acid that helps ward off both mental and physical fatigue. Arginine also helps to facilitate muscle growth through promoting the release of both growth hormone and insulin in the body during intense exercise such as bodybuilding. Arginine has become popular recently due to its ability to produce nitric oxide, which increases blood flow, and thus delivers more nutrients to the muscles and promoting growth. An additional benefit of arginine is that it may lower LDL cholesterol levels in the bloodstream and increases lipid (fat) metabolism. http://www.build-muscle-and-burn-fat.com/soy-versus-whey-protein.html

Have you looked into making your blog available on the Kindle at Amazon.com?

14cc (large) lap-band by Allergain.

I wouldn't do it. I wouldn't even consider it. There are better solutions. The band is a serious medical device and requires a lot of follow up. It is expensive, there is much more to it than just the cost of surgery. You should also read up in the forum for people who have problems with the band. The band can slip, erode, develop leaks, and you will be right back in the operating room again (which means more money). Personally, my surgery was VERY painful. And the upkeep is hard. There are constant visits and fills and meetings. You will still have to diet and learn what foods will be effective with the band and which ones you can over eat. And getting stuff stuck is so not fun. Search the forum for slimming and puking. Not to mention the constant gas. :frown:

I have been told whey isolate. Bodybuilding articles/sites seem to argue the two a lot, most side with whey and still others claim soy. If you google, you will find lots of discussion on it.

Shrimp and greenbeans are what have make me puke so far. There are also other things that I do not care for when I have to chew them 30x, like scallops. The taste just isnt a good when they are in your mouth that long getting masticated.

I have never heard of a high pressure band or a low pressure band? Do you mind educating me on these?

This is very scary and with it being a foreign country I am sure her legal options are limited to non-existant.